The Catastrophes Continue

With French Online Life

Paris:- Monday, 3. January 2000:- Last week, due
to France's double catastrophes, this column was updated
daily from Tuesday to Friday.

As of this morning, the wind storms have accounted for
88 deaths in France. The bodies of two killed by a fallen
chimney were only discovered yesterday, in
Orléans.

The state-owed electricity concern, EDF, said that
440,000 households remain without power this morning. These
are not liable to receive power soon as they are more
remote, or the electric lines require more than a quick
fix.

EDF has spoken of having entire power distribution
networks wiped out. Along with the households without
power, France Télécom has said that 400,000
of its subscribers are still cut off.

One of many
trees uprooted in Paris' parks. In all, Paris lost 4000
trees.

According to reports, 300 million trees were felled;
with 100 million of these being on state lands. TV-news has
shown line repair crews tackling fallen lines first with
chainsaws, to cut away the fallen trees that have knocked
down the cables and the pylons that hold them up.

The fallen trees pose other problems. One is that there
are so many of them, that there is nowhere near enough
manpower to transform them into wood products before they
rot on the ground.

Many of the downed trees will be turned into lumber, and
this will depress their market value. But this is a
relatively minor concern - a chance of economics. Few
houses in France are built primarily of wood.

Meanwhile, all the damaged houses have to be repaired.
While this work is a boon to building tradesmen, there are
not nearly enough to meet the demand.

Part of the Ile
de la Cité underwater. Water has receeded since the
photo was taken.

Insurance adjusters are out in force but they are
outnumbered too. State aid is now quoted without specific
numbers.

Some people are annoyed with politicians who are making
flying visits, from warm offices in Paris and elsewhere.
Daily they see EDF helicopters, risking their necks flying
in low fog.

Schools were among buildings damaged, with about a 1000
in France affected. This will prolong the Christmas
holidays for many students, which will pose problems for
many of their working parents.

The Oil Spill

The underwater explorer, brought in to survey the hulk
of the Erika for possible leakage, has gotten trapped by
the wreck and its operators have been unable to regain
control of it.

The tanks of the ship are believed to still contain
20,000 tons of heavy fuel. The
cargo's owners, TotalFina, will be forced by France to
recover the oil and the cost of doing this has been
estimated at hundreds of millions of francs.

Another
tree, near the first, in the place de la marché.

Three of the ship's tanks have released their contents
while eight others remain full. Oil picked up from the
beaches is being trucked to an Elf refinery where it is
being stored. On Friday, 7000 tons had arrived.

Nobody seems to know what to do with this, as normal
refining methods will not separate the oil for the sand in
it.

Meanwhile armies of volunteers toil on the beaches to
pick up the black gumbo as quickly as possible. Another
small army is trying to rescue sea birds that have been
covered in the oil.

First Strike of the Century

On RER line 'B,' Saturday, 1. January - on New Years
Day.

French Life Online

After Picasso, Now Leonardo

Last year, the French car manufacturer Renault, took one
of its nondescript family sedans and ballooned it up to be
a mini-van-sedan. For people needing headroom and kid-room,
it's great - even if it is sort of ugly. Renault can't help
this.

Then, Peugeot decided this idea is a good thing, ad
ballooned up one of its same-size sedans to match
Renault's, and to poke a stick in Renault's eye, called it
'Picasso' even if it is almost as ugly as Renault's
version.